Senate Democrats Push for Minimum Wage Vote Before Budget Deadline
Pennsylvania Senate Democrats demand Republican colleagues vote on bill raising minimum wage to $15 by 2029 as budget deadline approaches.
HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA — Senate Democrats called for immediate action on minimum wage legislation Wednesday, urging their Republican colleagues to advance a bill that would raise Pennsylvania’s minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2029.
The state House has passed legislation to raise the minimum wage three times in the last four years, most recently in March. The current bill would increase the minimum wage from $7.25 an hour — where it has remained since 2009 — gradually over the next three years until it reaches $15 an hour in 2029.
“If you are making under $15 [an hour], it’s the Senate Republicans that are keeping you under that number,” said Sen. Art Haywood (D-Montgomery).
Republican Senate Holds Up Legislation
Although this year’s bill has received bipartisan support, it currently sits in the Republican-controlled Senate’s Labor and Industry Committee. Democratic lawmakers gathered at the state Capitol to emphasize worker dignity in their push for the wage increase.
Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) has filed a discharge petition on this year’s minimum wage bill in an effort to force the Senate to vote on the wage legislation. The move comes as lawmakers face an approaching budget deadline.
Governor’s Budget Priorities
Raising the minimum wage has long been a priority for Gov. Josh Shapiro, who is running for reelection. In his budget address in February, he called on the General Assembly to raise the wage to $15 an hour to support spending, keep employees working, and increase stability for workers.
A higher minimum wage would also increase Pennsylvania’s revenue through increased tax collections, according to the governor’s office. The proposal represents a key component of Shapiro’s economic agenda as he seeks a second term.
Legislative History
Pennsylvania’s minimum wage has been stuck at the federal minimum of $7.25 per hour for 17 years. The House has repeatedly passed wage increase measures, but they have consistently stalled in the Senate under Republican control.
The current bill represents the latest attempt by Democrats to break through the legislative gridlock. With the budget deadline approaching, Democratic senators are intensifying pressure on their Republican colleagues to bring the measure to a floor vote.
The legislation has attracted attention from labor advocates and business groups across the commonwealth, with supporters arguing that the current wage level fails to provide a living wage for Pennsylvania workers.
